The Silent Bride's Loudest Revenge

On what was supposed to be my wedding night, I lifted the white silk veil with a heart full of joy.

But the bride beneath it wasnt my fiance. It was the gardeners daughter, the girl they always said wasnt all there. Willow.

A wave of snickering rippled through the room. Ryan, Avas best friend, grinned with pure malice.

Well, rules are rules, Ethan, he said, his voice slick with schadenfreude. You lifted the veil. Tradition says the groom has to spend the wedding night with the bride. He winked. Ill take one for the team and keep Ava company tonight.

Just then, Ava herself drifted into the room, a picture of unbothered elegance.

It was just a joke, Ethan, she said, her voice laced with a familiar, dismissive chill. Dont be so sensitive.

1

Besides, she added with a shrug, shes a simpleton. She wont know the difference. Its not like youll lose a piece of yourself by spending one night with her.

Looking at her, at the casual cruelty in her smirk, I didnt feel anger. I felt a profound sense of clarity. I laughed, a low, hollow sound.

If Im the one who lifted her veil, I said, my voice steady, then one night isnt enough.

I turned my back on them and their shocked faces. If Im going to be responsible for her, it has to be for life.

The room fell silent. My groomsmen, who had been ready for a night of drunken revelry, just stared, their mouths agape.

Make Ethan spend the night with a girl whos mentally disabled? Ava, what the hell were you thinking? one of them finally muttered.

Its your wedding day, another added, shaking his head. There are lines you dont cross.

Ava just arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Whats it to you? Im his fiance, and Im not bothered. Why should he be?

She stepped toward me, her tone dropping into a threat. You embarrassed Ryan at the charity auction last month. You cost him his bonus. Tonight was about settling that score.

So, you have two choices, she declared. Spend the night with the freak, or this wedding is off.

Being threatened by Ava wasnt new. But this this was beyond cruel. It was absurd.

Last month, Ryan, my own assistant, had accompanied me to a major charity auction. Id given him clear instructions, a strict bidding limit. He ignored every word, getting caught in a bidding war and forcing the company to acquire a piece of art for nearly half a million dollars over budget.

Company policy dictated immediate termination. I gave him a lighter sentenceforfeiture of his mid-year bonusas a favor to Ava. And yet, she was convinced I had orchestrated the whole thing just to humiliate him. She refused to listen to reason, calling me cold and ruthless.

Shed made me kneel in the lobby of my own damn building all night and hand-write a ten-thousand-word letter of apology to Ryan before shed finally dropped it. I thought it was over. I never imagined she would resurrect it like this, on our wedding day.

In that moment, any remaining warmth I felt for her turned to ice.

To settle a score for Ryan, she had concocted this grotesque theater, designed to make me the laughingstock of our entire social circle. She was standing there, radiating confidence, so utterly certain of my devotion that she believed I would willingly walk into this fire for her.

She had no idea that even the most intense love can be extinguished when its treated with such reckless contempt.

I let out a short, sharp breath and turned away from them completely.

I walked over to the girl in the borrowed wedding dress, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, happily unwrapping a piece of candy. I knelt down on one knee before her.

I took her hand. It was small and warm. I looked up into her face.

Willow, I said softly. Will you marry me?

Avas gasp was sharp and loud. Ethan, are you insane? I told you to spend one night with her, not actually marry the idiot!

Ryan grabbed her arm, hissing in her ear. Ava, calm down. Hes bluffing. Its a power play to make you back down. If you lose your cool now, he wins.

Hearing that, Ava composed herself, a smug little smile playing on her lips.

Fine, Ethan, she said, her voice dripping with condescension. And remember to get a new ring tomorrow. I dont want anything that simpleton has touched.

I ignored her. She rolled her eyes in frustration.

Well, since the groom seems to be occupied, I guess that means we can finally have a proper bachelor party for me, she announced to the room. Drinks on me. Lets not let the night go to waste!

She turned and walked out, pulling Ryan along with her, without a single backward glance.

I remained on one knee, my hand hovering in the empty air, a vast, hollow feeling spreading through my chest.

Just then, a soft, warm hand gently placed itself in mine.

I looked up, and my eyes met Willows. A slow, gentle smile spread across her face. Her voice was a quiet whisper, but it cut through the silence of the room with perfect clarity.

I do.

I was taken aback. For some reason, while her mannerisms seemed simple and childlike, the eyes looking back at me were crystal clear, lucid. The thought vanished as quickly as it came, and I dismissed it.

I softened my voice, speaking to her as one would a child. Willow, if youre agreeing to marry me, we have to go to City Hall first. We need to get a marriage license to make it real.

I paused, holding her gaze, and asked again, my voice serious. This isnt a game, Willow. Are you absolutely sure?

She didnt answer with words. She just clapped her hands together, her face lit with pure, unadulterated joy.

Seeing her so happy, a bitter smile touched my own lips.

I drove us to the County Clerks office myself. The process of filling out the paperwork was a chaotic ordeal. When it was time to sign, she gripped the pen and scribbled wildly, finally managing a shaky, crooked version of her name. When we did the fingerprints, she was fascinated by the red ink, getting it all over her hands and even smudging it on her cheek. She just giggled at her reflection, looking like a little kitten.

Soon enough, two crisp, new marriage certificates were in our hands.

Willow held hers like it was a priceless treasure, her eyes shining. She clutched it to her chest, refusing to let go.

As we walked out of the building, I called my driver. I gently stroked Willows hair.

Willow, I need you to go with the driver, okay? I have something I need to take care of. Ill be back very soon.

She looked at me, confused, but nodded obediently.

I turned my car around and headed for the bar.

When I pushed open the door to the private room, only Ava and Ryan were left. She was dabbing his mouth with a damp towel, her movements careful and tender. His shirt collar was stained with vomit.

I remembered Avas obsessive cleanliness. Once, when I had a terrible flu, Id been sick in the middle of the night. Her first reaction was to leap out of bed, pinching her nose. Ethan, youre disgusting! Cant you make it to the bathroom? shed snapped. I was the one who, burning with fever, had to strip the bed and change the sheets. She never once asked if I was okay. She spent that night at Ryans place.

Yet here she was, completely unfazed by the filth on him.

Ryan, his eyes glassy with drink, saw me and grinned. Ethan, my man. I thought you were supposed to be enjoying your wedding night with the pretty little fool. What happened? Regret it already?

Ava didnt stop cleaning his face. Ryan, shut up, she murmured, before finally turning her gaze to me. Her tone was flat, bored. Ethan, I think youve learned your lesson today, so Ill let it slide.

We can have another ceremony in a few days. I have to get Ryan home. Hes had way too much to drink.

Watching the obvious care she had for him, and contrasting it with the cold indifference shed always shown me, the frozen part of my heart felt a sharp, dull ache, as if pierced by an icicle. The last ripple of emotion I had for her stilled into absolute silence.

I nodded slowly. Then, I pulled the marriage certificate from my jacket pocket.

Do whatever you want. But theres no need to reschedule the wedding. Willow and I are already legally married.

The sight of the certificate wiped the bored expression from Avas face. Her complexion turned ashen.

Are you kidding me, Ethan? You actually went and legally married that that thing? she seethed. You must be as sick in the head as she is to pull a stunt like this. If word gets out, how am I ever supposed to show my face in public again?

Even now, all she could think about was her own reputation. The idea that the CEO of the Cole Corporation had left her at the altar to marry a mentally disabled girlthe public humiliation would be unbearable for her.

Ryan let out a drunken snort. Wow, Ethan. I have to hand it to you. Going this far just to make Ava angry? That takes dedication. But humiliating yourself is one thing. Why drag Ava down with you?

Their words were a mockery. They were the ones who set this whole grotesque play in motion. When I said Id marry Willow, Ava did nothing to stop me. And now it was somehow my fault?

Just then, Ryan gagged again, spewing vomit onto the sleeve of Avas designer dress.

She cried out but didnt push him away. Instead, she frantically looked around for something to clean it with. The cocktail napkins were all used. Her eyes landed on me.

Ethan, your handkerchief! Give it to me, quickly! she demanded.

I froze.

The handkerchief she was talking about was one she had embroidered for me when we first started dating. It had our initials stitched into the corner. Shed called it a symbol of our love, something I should carry with me always. For all these years, I had. It had never left my pocket.

And now, she wanted it to wipe another mans vomit off her dress.

My heart didnt just break. It shattered into dust.

After a long moment of silence, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the handkerchief. I didnt hand it to her. I threw it on the floor at her feet.

Were done, Ava.

She bent down, snatched it up, and immediately started cleaning her sleeve, shouting at me over her shoulder. Its just a stupid piece of cloth! Are you really going to be this dramatic? I can wash it! Or, God, Ill stitch you a new one when I have time!

I didnt bother replying. I just turned and walked toward the door.

A new one? There was no future for us.

Seeing me leave, her voice grew louder, laced with fury. Go on, walk out! You really think I need you, Ethan?

Youre going to regret this! And when you do, dont come crawling back to me!

It was late when I returned to the villa.

Willow was curled up on the living room sofa, fast asleep. She was still clutching her marriage certificate tightly in her arms.

Seeing her like that, something inside my chest softened.

I walked over quietly, intending to carry her to the bedroom. But my movement startled her awake. Her eyes were hazy with sleep, but when they focused on me, they lit up.

Youre youre back.

Yeah. I smiled, leaning down. From now on, if Im late, you dont have to wait up. Just go to bed when youre tired, okay?

After I got Willow settled in her room, I went to my study. A moment later, my phone screen lit up. A text from Ava.

[Ethan, if you come back and apologize to me right now, I might consider forgiving you.]

[Be angry, throw a tantrum, I dont care. But you do not get to disgust me by actually marrying that imbecile!]

I stared at the screen, feeling nothing. The words that once would have twisted my insides into knots now just seemed annoying.

I didnt reply. I just blocked her number.

The world suddenly felt very quiet.

The next morning, I took Willow out. I realized that in all the years Id known of her, shed never had a phone of her own. I thought it would be better if she had one, in case I ever needed to reach her.

At the mobile store, after we got her a new number, I saved it in my contacts. When the field for the name came up, I paused for a moment, then carefully typed in one word:

Wife.

As we were leaving the mall, we ran headlong into Ava and Ryan.

Avas gaze was like a razor blade, slicing from our intertwined hands to my face. Her expression was a mixture of fury and derisive amusement.

Ethan, are you ever going to get tired of this little game? she sneered. Parading this thing around in public. Have you no shame? What about the Cole family name?

Ryan chimed in, his tone condescending. Come on, man. Its gone far enough. Avas not angry anymore. Just apologize and we can all put this behind us.

Excuse me, I said, my voice flat and devoid of emotion, cutting them both off. I need to take my wife to pick out a wedding dress.

Hearing me call Willow my wife so intimately, Ava finally snapped.

Ethan! Have you forgotten how you begged me to be with you? Have you forgotten that you swore you would only love me for the rest of your life?

How long are you going to keep up this pathetic charade with this simpleton? Are you really telling me youre not going to marry me anymore?

I met her furious gaze without flinching and delivered the final blow.

Thats right, Ava, I said calmly. I dont want you anymore.

And as the color drained from her face, I gently guided Willow past her, and we didnt look back.

2

Three days later, Willow and I held our wedding.

As expected, Ava showed up.

She didnt come alone. She brought Ryan, her entire clique of sycophantic friends, and a swarm of media reporters shed clearly tipped off. Our small, private ceremony was suddenly overrun.

Before Ava could even speak, the reporters descended on me like vultures.

Mr. Cole, is it true that youre marrying a woman with a known intellectual disability simply to spite your former fiance, Ms. Lynch? Have you considered the emotional damage this will cause her?

Ava stood behind them, her face a perfect mask of wounded innocence. Her voice trembled as she spoke. Ethan, I know youre still angry with me, but how could you do this? How could you try to punish me like this? What will people think?

Even though I had prepared myself for this, standing there under the glare of a dozen cameras made a hot wave of humiliation wash over me.

Ava saw my discomfort, and a triumphant smile flickered across her lips. She pushed through the reporters and glided towards me.

Ethan, she said, her voice now a patronizing coo. You went to all this trouble, didnt you? All just to win me back.

I wont hold it against you. All you have to do is apologize. Kneel, right here, in front of everyone, and beg for my forgiveness. If you do that, I might consider it.

She tilted her chin up, her face a portrait of smug certainty. She was so sure that I would take the escape route she was offering.

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